Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the outcomes of major hip surgery for children with cerebral palsy and communication difficulties using a validated health related quality of life measure and a validated pain score.

Introduction

The aims of this study were to undertake a prospective randomised trial to compare functional outcome, strength and range of motion after treatment of medial collateral ligament injuries by either early unprotected mobilisation or mobilisation with a hinged brace.

The aims of this study were to undertake a prospective randomised trial to compare functional outcome, and range of motion after treatment of medial collateral ligament injuries by either early unprotected mobilisation or mobilisation with a hinged brace.

Patients were randomised into either unprotected mobilisation or mobilisation with a hinged brace. Assessments occurred at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months. Outcome measures included validated questionnaires (International Knee Documentation Committee and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score scores), range of motion measurements and strength testing.

Eighty six patients (mean age 30.4) were recruited. There were 53 men and 33 women. The mode of injury was sport in 56 patients (65%) with football, rugby and skiing being the most common types of sport involved.

The mean time to return to full weight bearing was 3 weeks in both groups. The mean time to return to work was 4.6 weeks in the braced group and 4.1 weeks in the non-braced group (p=0.79).

Return to running was at a mean of 14.3 weeks in the braced group and 12.8 weeks in the non-braced group (p=0.64). Return to full sport was 22 weeks in the braced group and 22.1 weeks in the non-braced group (p=0.99). There was no significant difference in range of movement or pain scores between the two groups at 2,6,12 and 24 weeks.

The use of a hinged knee brace does not influence recovery after a medial collateral injury.

Our purpose was to study the functional outcome and electrophysiologically to assess the axially nerve function in patients who have undergone surgery using a deltoid-splitting approach to treat complex proximal humeral fractures.

This was a prospective observational study and was carried out in the Shoulder injury clinic at a university teaching hospital. Over a one-year period we treated fourteen locally-resident patients (median age 59 years) who presented with a three- or four-part proximal humeral fracture. All patients were treated using the extended deltoid-splitting approach, with open reduction, bone grafting and plate osteosynthesis. All patients were prospectively reviewed and underwent functional testing using the DASH, Constant and SF-36 scores as well as spring balance testing of deltoid power, and dynamic muscle function testing. At one year after surgery, all patients underwent EMG and nerve latency studies to assess axillary nerve function.

Thirteen of the fourteen patients united their fractures without complications, and had DASH and Constant score that were good, with comparatively minor residual deficits on assessment of muscle power. Of these thirteen patients, only one had evidence of slight neurogenic change in the anterior deltoid. This patient had no evidence of anterior deltoid paralysis and her functional scores, spring balance and dynamic muscle function test results were indistinguishable from the patients with normal electrophysiological findings. One of the fourteen patients developed osteonecrosis of the humeral head nine months after surgery and had poor functional scores, without evidence of nerve injury on electrophysiological testing.

Reconstruction through an extended deltoid-splitting approach provides a useful alternative in the treatment of complex proximal humeral fractures. The approach provides good access for reduction and implant placement and does not appear to be associated with clinically-significant adverse effects.

The purpose of this prospective study was to determine the predictive factors and hence optimal management of closed uncomplicated proximal radial fractures. We examined all patients presenting to our unit over an 18-month period with isolated closed proximal radial fractures. 237 consecutive patients were included. Demographic data, physical examination, radiographs, treatment and complications were recorded. Patients were reviewed at 2, 6, 12, 26 and 52 weeks post injury. Outcome was determined via functional assessment and Mayo Elbow Score (MES). Data were analysed using SPSS.

There were 156 (66%) radial head fractures and 81 (34%) radial neck fractures. 225 (95%) patients were treated non-operatively in a collar and cuff for one week followed by physiotherapy. 12 (5%) patients required primary surgical intervention due to either a mechanical block to forearm rotation (n=4) or a significant degree of radiographic comminution and/or displacement (n=8). Of the 201 patients who attended follow-up, 183 (91%) patients achieved excellent or good functional results measured on the MES. 155 (78%) patients achieved this by six weeks, with an average flexion arc of 125 degrees. Of the 12 patients treated operatively, the average MES at six weeks was fair (60). Regression analysis showed that increasing age, the AO-OTA fracture classification (B2.3, C2.3), radiographic displacement and operative treatment were significant predictors of a fair or poor outcome at six weeks.

The majority of isolated proximal radial fractures can be treated non-operatively with early mobilization, achieving excellent or good results within 6 weeks. Age, fracture classification, radiographic displacement and treatment choice are important factors that determine speed of recovery.

Introduction Following any intraarticular fracture, joint range of movement and muscle strength recovery are vital factors in patient’s return to activities. Quadriceps weakness is a known complication of any injury affecting the knee. The purpose of this study was to investigate the recovery of knee ROM and quadriceps and hamstrings muscle strength in the first year after tibial plateau fracture and to assess factors that affect the recovery.

Method 63 patients were recruited over a 5-year period. Data regarding the age and sex of the patient, the mechanism of injury, the grade of the fracture according to Shatzker’s classification and the treatment received were recorded. All patients underwent a standard rehabilitation regime. At 3, 6 and 12 months after injury the patients were seen by a research physiotherapist. The range of movement was recorded. Thigh muscle peak torque was measured using isokinetic dynanmometry. The uninjured limb was used as the control – the peak torque in the injured limb was expressed as a percentage of the value in the uninjured limb to give the percentage recovery in the injured limb.

Results There was an initial extension deficit of 7° at 3 months, which improved to 3° at 12 months. Quadriceps strength recovery lagged behind that in the hamstrings at all times and only achieved only 77% at 12 months, compared to 90% in the hamstrings (p< 0.001). Patients under 40 outperformed those over 40 at each time point. At 12 months under 40s had achieved 85% recovery in their quadriceps, while over 40s only reached 74% (p< 0.01). Patient sex, mechanism of injury and grade of fracture had no effect on the level of recovery in this study.

Conclusion Patients who sustain a tibial plateau fracture have a residual small extension deficit and objective quadriceps weakness at 1 year post injury. Patient age has a significant effect on the level of quadriceps recovery. This information is useful when counselling patients who sustain these injuries.

Purpose: To document the recovery of knee function following Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) injury of the knee.

Methods and Results A cohort of 38 consecutive patients with MCL injuries were followed prospectively from the time of injury for a period of one year. There were 13 grade I MCL sprains and 25 grade II sprains. Twelve patients had a concomitant ACL tear. Patients were treated in a hinged knee brace with full extension and 90 degrees of knee flexion for 6 weeks from the date of injury. All patients had an identical rehabilitation programme. Clinical outcome was assessed using two standard functional knee scores (International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score and Knee Outcome Orthopaedic Score (KOOS)). Quadriceps and hamstring muscle function was tested isokinetically using a dynamometer. Outcome assessments were carried out at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year.

At 2 weeks the average range of motion (ROM) difference from the normal side was 31%. Twenty-five patients (66%) restored a functional range of motion (5–120 degrees) by 6 weeks. Thirty-five patients (92%) had a normal ROM by 3 months. Peak torque, average power and total work of quadriceps and hamstring muscle groups were normal in 4 patients (11%) at 6 weeks. At 3 months 11 patients (29%) had restored normal muscle function. At 6 months 46% of patients had normal muscle function. At 1 year 11 patients (29%) still had abnormalities of muscle function on isokinetic testing.

Conclusions: Patients with MCL injuries can be advised that range of motion can be expected to return to normal in the majority of cases by 3 months but muscle function recovers more slowly over 12 months following injury.

Poor shoulder function may complicate the non-operative treatment of a humeral diaphyseal fracture. This has often been regarded as an unavoidable consequence of the relative immobility of the shoulder during brace treatment. Tears of the rotator cuff have not previously been recognised as an underlying cause of persistent shoulder pain and stiffness in this situation.

In this report, we identified six patients, from a consecutive series of 294 patients with humeral fractures treated in our Institution over a five-year period, who were found to have symptomatic rotator cuff tears following non-operative treatment of their humeral diaphyseal fracture. All had normal pre-injury upper limb function, but had persistent pain and loss of active shoulder movement after their fracture had united. Large, retracted cuff tears, affecting the cuff muscles attached to the greater tuberosity, were identified pre-operatively from imaging of the rotator cuff and intra-operatively at open surgery. Surgical reconstruction of the cuff was carried out in all cases and yielded satisfactory return of shoulder function, on assessment at least eighteen months after injury.